Leading the troops into the realm of systems engineering

TNO-ESI was asked to help the Netherlands armed forces take their systems engineering know-how to the next level. After a successful pilot training with twenty participants, four additional groups of twenty will be upskilled this year. The Dutch Materiel and IT Command (COMMIT) is responsible for the supply of equipment to the Netherlands armed forces. Reporting to the Ministry of Defense, the government agency is involved in purchasing and maintaining a wide variety of gear, including safety vests and field kitchens, but also airplanes and battleships. “It ranges from seemingly simple stuff to highly advanced systems,” says Mark Michielsen, head of the Weapon System Management Knowledge Center at COMMIT.